Finally a Court House is a house designed around a courtyard

Wind and Wellington, New Zealand go hand in hand. Finding an outdoor space with an escape from the constant wind became the primary goal when Spacecraft Architects began designing this home for a young family seeking shelter from the elements. Dubbed Finally a Court House, the centralized courtyard was the starting point for this roughly 80-square-meter home that features two bedrooms, main living areas, two separate conservatories and a studio, in addition to the court garden. Every room in the house faces the central courtyard, offering views through high-efficiency powder-coated aluminum windows with clear double glazing, which provide  natural light  throughout. In addition, the windows open to provide ventilation and passive solar heating. Related: Energy-efficient Wanaka Wedge House offers views of the Southern Alps The home offers a tight envelope and is highly insulated for energy efficiency. It’s placed on a thermally broken natural concrete slab that reduces heat loss and features thick wall framing for maximum thermal insulation. The exterior of Finally a Court House is clad in fiber-cement sheets, which are budget-friendly and fireproof. Interior walls that face the courtyard are clad with  wood  sourced locally from the Macrocarpa Cypress tree, which is native to New Zealand. Outdoor areas feature corrugated polycarbonate sheet roofing to protect from the wind while allowing the sun into the garden and, ultimately, the home. The house is oriented to take advantage of winter sunlight to warm the house, while the natural ventilation through skylights, windows and large doors eliminates the need for air conditioning. Further energy savings are achieved through the use of LED lighting and ceramic light shades. Concrete slabs inside the home capture heat from the  passive design  elements that provide direct sunlight. However, for supplemental heat, there is a small wood-burning fireplace that can also be used as a stovetop. An instant gas system heats  water  close to the source in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.  + Spacecraft Architects Via ArchDaily   Images via David Straight and Joe Norman

See more here:
Finally a Court House is a house designed around a courtyard

* This article was originally published here

A Natural and Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Recipe

Homemade DIY dish soap is easy to make. It also saves you money, eliminates toxins from your home, and is a fun project to do with the kids!

Are you looking to save money on cleaning products and work toward a more natural lifestyle, eliminating chemicals and toxins from your everyday products? Do you love the challenge of making your own cleaners?

If so, try this simple recipe for homemade DIY dish soap. It’s not for the dishwasher, it’s for hand-washing the dishes the old-fashioned way. (I say yuck, Matt actually likes doing it that way.)

Even though we wrote a book on how to make all your own household cleaners, we continue to create new recipes and improve the old ones. This recipe (not featured in the book) is simple, natural, cheap to make, and cleans dishes to a sparkling shine.

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Homemade Dish Soap: A Natural Recipe

Homemade DIY dish soap is easy to make. It also saves you money, eliminates toxins from your home, and is a fun project to do with the kids!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes

Cooling Time 7 hours

Total Time 7 hours 16 minutes

Servings 8 ounces

Author Betsy Jabs

Cost $2

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups boiling water
• 1 Tbsp borax
• 1 Tbsp grated bar soap (use homemade soap, Castile bar soap, Ivory, or whichever natural bar you prefer)
• 15-20 drops essential oils

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Heat water to boiling.
  1 ¾ cups boiling water
• Combine borax and grated bar soap in a medium bowl. Pour hot water over the mixture. Whisk until the grated soap is completely melted.
  1 Tbsp borax, 1 Tbsp grated bar soap, 1 ¾ cups boiling water
• Allow mixture to cool on the countertop for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. Dish soap will gel upon standing.
• Transfer to a squirt bottle, and add essential oils (if using). Shake well to combine.
  15-20 drops essential oils
• Now you’re ready to use your liquid dish soap just as you would use any commercial brand!

Homemade Dish Soap Video Tutorial

Enjoy this video tutorial with step-by-step instructions.

(If you cannot see the video click here to view it in your browser.)

Increase the Cleaning Power of Your Soap

Antibacterial essential oils can be used in this homemade dish soap recipe to naturally increase the cleaning power. Oils such as lemon, eucalyptus, sweet orange, geranium, or lavender have antibacterial properties. Using citrus oil will also help with cutting grease. I personally prefer eucalyptus lemon dish soap, with about 10 drops of lemon and 6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. The aromatherapy makes the chore of washing dishes a little more enjoyable.

Using your Homemade Dish Soap

If you’re accustomed to using commercial dish soap that foams and bubbles, it will take some time to get used to homemade alternatives. Commercial dish soaps have added harmful chemical surfactants (like sodium lauryl sulfate) to create suds – more for the visual effect, not necessarily more cleaning power. Suds are actually not necessary to get things clean, but we’ve been conditioned to think that bubbles have to be present for cleaning. This is not so.

When you squirt your homemade dish soap into the sink, you’ll notice a little bubbling at first, but then the water will just look a little cloudy. This is normal. Your dishes will still come out clean. I always wash silverware first, then dishes and glasses, and save pots, pans, and really greasy dishes for last.

Note: If your homemade dish soap ever gels up too much in the bottle just give it a shake and it’ll be ready for use again. You can also dump it all in your blender and blend for about 10 seconds. This should prevent future gelling and/or separation.

A Word On Borax

There are all sorts of concerns about the toxicity of borax swirling around on the Internet. Many readers have expressed concern about the inclusion of borax in our dishwasher detergent recipe and laundry detergent recipe. We have done tons of research on it, and feel it is a safe, effective addition to homemade cleaners. You may be interested in reading this article on the subject, or this article, or doing more research to help make your own determination.

Happy dishwashing! Let us know what you think of the recipe.

*******

A Natural and Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Recipe was written by Betsy Jabs.

* This article was originally published here

August 29 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Hurricane Ida: Thousands Flee As Storm Bears Down On Louisiana” • Thousands of people are fleeing as Hurricane Ida closes in on Louisiana. Ida is expected to make landfall with 130 mph (209 km/h) winds and a “life-threatening” storm surge. Forecasters say it may be stronger than Hurricane Katrina, which devastated much of New Orleans in 2005. [BBC]

Projected path of Hurricane Ida (NOAA image)

• “Space Mission Tests NREL Perovskite Solar Cells” • NREL Researchers are testing ways to bring costs down for terrestrial applications and transforming how PV technologies could work in space. Now, a test will evaluate the potential use of perovskite solar cells in space and assess the durability of materials used in those cells. [CleanTechnica]
• “Volkswagen ID Buzz Assembly Line Update, Chip Shortage Shuts Down Production” • VW is expanding production of EVs, but MDR Sachsen reports that Volkswagen is pausing electric car production at its Zwickau factory because of the global shortage of computer chips. The shortage is also affecting the company’s main factory in Wolfsburg. [CleanTechnica]
• “Louisiana Hasn’t Yet Recovered From Two Major Hurricanes In 2020. Now Another Is Taking Aim” • Five named storms struck Louisiana in 2020. Two of them were major hurricanes, doing a total of $18.75 billion in damages. As the state still reels from the destruction, another major hurricane is now barreling toward the coast. [CNN]
• “Gas Cars Are Declining Significantly And Full Electrics Rising In USA” • We may have experienced peak fossil car sales in the USA, and the peak year wasn’t even very recently. It appears that 2016 will go down in history as the peak year for fossil-powered light-duty vehicle sales. Ironically, that’s also the year the Tesla Model 3 was unveiled. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

Farm Small: Mr.Beast, Falling In Love with Ideas, Dan Brisebois on Farm Sales, and the Top Ten Vegetables Worldwide

In this episode, Diego discusses how the Mr.Beast Burger model might make sense for farms and why you can't just love an idea. Dan Brisebois of https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com// joins to talk farm sales and changing since COVID.  We close out the episode with the Top Ten Vegetables Grown Worldwide.  Comment on this episode on IG https://instagram.com/diegofooter

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpot

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

How To Make Boiled Peanuts, a Southern Delicacy!

This boiled peanuts recipe will teach you how to make boiled peanuts just like they do in the American South. They are definitely a delicacy!

When I moved to North Carolina almost 17 years ago, I knew there would be some strange foods. Maybe strange is the wrong word. More like unique. Grits, crawdads, sweet tea, you name it. Then came the boiled peanuts!

Boiled Peanuts!

Boiled peanuts are undeniably a southern delicacy. You’ll find them at tailgate markets, flea markets, and roadside stands. And they’re just what their name suggests, peanuts that they boil in their shells in a seasoned brine. They cook until they are tender, yielding a soft, salted treat. Some say peanuts fresh out of the field are more perishable than roasted peanuts, so they are boiled to preserve them. You have to refrigerate raw peanuts or they will spoil. This solves at least part of the mystery.

Seasonings to Use

Predominantly, salt is the main seasoning used in this boiled peanuts recipe. But you’ll want to boil them a bit first, then add the salt later when they are at least partly cooked. Adding salt too soon can cause the peanuts to be tough. Other seasonings you could use are garlic or onion powder, cayenne, celery salt, (I use my own version of Old Bay, which is celery salt, cayenne, and black pepper), or any number of other seasonings. I would try them with just salt first to see how you like them.

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Boiled Peanuts Recipe

This boiled peanuts recipe will teach you how to make boiled peanuts just like they do in the American South. They are definitely a delicacy!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Brine Time 30 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes

Servings 2 pounds

Calories 2585kcal

Author Debra Maslowski

Cost $15

Equipment

• Slow cooker

Ingredients

• 2 pounds raw peanuts (in the shell)
• 2 quarts water
• 1/3 cup salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Wash the peanuts well. Peanuts grow best in the sand, so there may be some clinging to the shells.
  2 pounds raw peanuts
• Place them in a pot and cover until they are submerged in water. You may need to add more later, depending on how much the peanuts absorb.
  2 pounds raw peanuts, 2 quarts water
• Measure the salt in a small amount of hot water and stir well so that the salt all dissolves. Set aside for now. Some of your peanuts may float to the top. This is fine and totally normal with this boiled peanuts recipe.
  1/3 cup salt
• Once they absorb enough water, they will sink. Set the pot to boil and keep an eye on it. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover.
• In a couple of hours, check to see if the peanuts are soft. If they have started to soften, you can add the salt brine at this time. Continue to simmer until the peanuts are very soft. Depending on the size and freshness, they could take 4 hours or more.
• When the peanuts are all soft, turn off the heat and let them sit in the brine for 30 minutes or so. They will soak up more of the salty goodness over time.
• When they cool down a bit, they are ready to eat.

Notes

Tweak to your own tastes.

Alternately, you can cook the peanuts in a slow cooker. On high, they should take about 4-6 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 2585kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 119g | Fat: 225g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 78g | Monounsaturated Fat: 101g | Sodium: 19009mg | Potassium: 3379mg | Fiber: 43g | Calcium: 521mg | Iron: 18mg

How to Eat Boiled Peanuts

The first time I tried these, long before making this boiled peanuts recipe, I must have looked pretty inexperienced in the matter. I took my cup and sat down on a bench. Then, I fished around in the cup for a single peanut and took it apart with my fingers. Casting the shell aside, I then ate the nuts. This earned me several stares. One guy said, “Girl, you ain’t from ’round here, are ya?” I hung my head in shame and admitted I was from Minnesota.

He took pity on me and said “Lemme show ya how it’s done.” and he did just that. He scooped up a peanut still in the shell and placed the whole thing in his mouth. Then he grabbed the part of the shell closest to his lips and pulled on the shell while squeezing his upper and lower teeth together. Out popped the peanuts on the inside as he threw the shell on the ground. “See?” he says. “Nuthin’ to it!” and I’ve been eating them that way ever since.

Tip: love peanuts? Try our homemade peanut butter recipe!

If you make this boiled peanuts recipe be sure to let us know how you like it!

*******

How To Make Boiled Peanuts, a Southern Delicacy! was written by Debra Maslowski.

* This article was originally published here

This prefab home expansion in Ecuador enjoys gorgeous views

The province of Pichincha in the northern Sierra region of  Ecuador  wraps around the slopes of a dormant stratovolcano. Although its capital and largest city is Quito, one of the most visited destinations in the entire country, Pichincha also boasts some spectacularly secluded forested landscapes in the highland areas of the Andes Mountains. It was here that architects at RAMA Estudio were tasked with a modular home expansion for a largely nomadic family that decided to stay put in their home during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Whereas the family could previously get away with smaller spaces due to keeping their stays short and sporadic in the house (which totaled just 65 square meters) pre-COVID, the challenge came in creating a larger space once they decided to move in permanently. The clients requested expanding the existing home to include social areas and independent bedrooms for each of their children, all to be completed within three months. RAMA Estudio responded with an industrially  prefabricated  piece that could subtly sit on the ground, attaching itself to the existing structure. Related: Stunning family home in Ecuador offers serenity in an increasingly noisy world As the home is positioned over a slope overlooking the valley, care was taken to understand the natural environment and refrain from disturbing the soil or degrading the vegetation. Additionally, no construction waste was created that wasn’t reused for other projects or within the site itself. For example, all material that could be reused from the facade demolition was sorted to improve the ground in areas surrounding the building. The project features a system of metal channels that work as the structure for the floor and roof, both of which are thermally  insulated  and allow for vegetation to grow, similar to a green roof. Hanging plants overflow from the rooftop to complement the floor-to-ceiling windows, helping the building camouflage into its naturally vegetated surroundings. Regular modules built with  plywood  panels run from each end to create storage, decorative surfaces and screens toward the bedrooms. There are separate modules for the stove and television, including one for the kitchen that contains other appliances and cabinets. + RAMA Estudio Via ArchDaily Images courtesy of Jag Studio

Original post:
This prefab home expansion in Ecuador enjoys gorgeous views

* This article was originally published here

Farm Small: The Downside of Up, Getting People In, Javan Bernakevitch, and Fruit Only Good as Fruit

In this episode, Diego discusses the downside of up - focusing on what you don't like about what you like and the importance of getting more people into your business.  Javan Bernakevitch of https://www.allpointsdesign.ca joins to talk about making more holistic decisions.  We close out the episode with the fruits that are only good as fruits.  Comment on this episode on IG https://instagram.com/diegofooter

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpot

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

Farm Small: Creating Lasting Memories and Hated Bands Crashing Your Party

In this episode, Diego discusses the ways in which we lose people and how we can build memories with the people we have before we lose them.  He also asks the question - "Would you want this band to crash your Memorial Day Party?"  Comment on this episode on IG https://instagram.com/diegofooter

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpot

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

Farm Small: Father's Day Edition

In this episode, Diego talks about finding ourselves in The Tail End as parents and being a dad.  He also discusses being a dad and farmer with Jeremy Tolley of https://www.instagram.com/redthreadfarm.  We close out the episode talking kids TV that is actually good.  Comment on this episode on IG https://instagram.com/diegofooter

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpot

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

August 22 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “How The Climate Crisis Is Changing Hurricanes” • The proportion of high-intensity hurricanes has increased due to warmer global temperatures, according to a UN climate report released earlier this month. Scientists have also found that the storms are more likely to stall and lead to devastating rainfall and they last longer after making landfall. [CNN]

Hurricane (Pixabay, Pexels)

• “The Middle East Is Running Out Of Water, And Parts Of It Are Becoming Uninhabitable” • Lakes in the Middle East are drying up, and there are concerns that they will disappear entirely. The region has witnessed persistent drought and temperatures so high that they are barely fit for human life. And from this point, things are just getting worse. [CNN]
• “Exelon Generation Receives US DOE Grant To Explore Hydrogen Production At Oswego Nuclear Station” • Exelon will partner with Nel Hydrogen, Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory and the National Energy Laboratory to demonstrate integrated production, storage and normal usage at the Nine Mile Point nuclear plant. [H2 View]
• “Hurricane Henri: East Coast Warned Of Significant Damage” • Residents on the East Coast have been urged to prepare for one of the most powerful storms in years. Hurricane Henri, which has strengthened from a tropical storm, is expected to hit Long Island and southern parts of New England. Hurricanes are rare for this part of the US coastline. [BBC]
• “Why Autumn Weather Won’t Be The Same This Year” • At the halfway point of August, fall is quickly approaching. But warm temperatures and prolonged drought could continue, hindering the traditional fall feeling of cool, crisp mornings with beautiful foliage on the trees. The Climate Prediction Center also raised chances for La Niña this fall. [CNN]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

A Natural Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer

I recently created this natural garbage disposal cleaner and deodorizer recipe to freshen my stinky garbage disposal. And it works great!

Make Natural Garbage Disposal Cleaner

I have never lived in a home with a garbage disposal until recently.

For the first few months of living in our new home, I completely forgot it existed. Then I realized that I could create less trash by using my garbage disposal to take care of unwanted food scraps and other small particles that normally ended up in the trash.

I’ve really been enjoying using our garbage disposal until a few days ago. I noticed a very subtle stink every time I turned on the water. It took me a few days to realize that it was coming from the garbage disposal.

Of course, I tried cleaning it with my sprayer, then using a little soap, but nothing could eliminate the stink. I knew I had to find a natural garbage disposal cleaner, and fast.

Natural Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer

The Do’s and Don’ts

If you look online you will find lots of people telling you to throw lemons into your disposal. While this might work for some, it is important to cut the lemons up into small pieces so your garbage disposal doesn’t jam. When I tried this, my unit made a really LOUD sound, so I decided I would keep the lemon rinds out of my disposal. Plus, I rarely have fresh lemons, so I needed a solution that would be easy to make up when I needed it most.

Next, I started researching things that I could not put down the garbage disposal. Lots of straight acids (like plain citric acid) can hurt or even corrode pipes. Essential oils can cause the plastic to break down. Drain cleaners with bleach are not good for the environment and can cause issues in the pipes.

Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer That Works

After doing some testing, I finally came up with a solution that works well as a monthly maintenance deodorizer and cleaner.

I find that citric acid is one of my favorite cleaners for grease and grime. It breaks up gunk and carries it away with a lovely bubbling action. I’ve used citric acid in bath bombs and other household cleaners and I even add a little bit to boost my dishwasher every once in a while. You can find it online or in the canning section of your local supermarket.

Since citric acid is an acid, I added some baking soda to neutralize the garbage disposal cleaner. Baking soda is a great deodorizer as well!

Citric acid and baking soda on their own don’t have much of an odor. So I decided to add some dried eucalyptus leaves to this cleaner. The dried eucalyptus is already pretty fine and it imparts its fresh, sharp, slightly menthol aroma to this DIY cleaner. I find that the aroma stays behind and continues to deodorize even after I’ve flushed the cleaner away.

NOTE: I normally add essential oils to my DIY cleaners, but I don’t like to add essential oils to this one. My garbage disposal has some plastic parts that can be harmed by prolonged use of essential oils. So I left those out this time.

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Garbage Disposal Cleaner: A Natural Recipe

I recently created this natural garbage disposal cleaner and deodorizer recipe to freshen my stinky garbage disposal. And it works great!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 16 ounces

Author Katie Vance

Cost $2

Equipment

• 16-ounce wide mouth mason jar

Ingredients

• 5 ounces citric acid
• 8 ounces baking soda
• 3 Tbsps eucalyptus leaves (dried and crushed – or eucalyptus powder)

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• To make the garbage disposal cleaner, combine citric acid, baking soda, and eucalyptus leaves into a bowl.
  5 ounces citric acid, 8 ounces baking soda, 3 Tbsps eucalyptus leaves
• Stir well.
• Spoon into a mason jar and seal.
• Store in a cool, dry place until you need it.

To Use

• Add two tablespoons of the garbage disposal cleaner to your garbage disposal.
• Allow it to sit for 30 seconds.
• Flush with cold water.
• Run garbage disposal while continuing to flush with water.

Video

Notes

I normally add essential oils to my DIY cleaners, but I don’t like to add essential oils to this one. My garbage disposal has some plastic parts that can be harmed by prolonged use of essential oils. So I left those out this time.

I generally need to use this cleaner every two weeks, but we do use our garbage disposal a lot (two little boys… enough said!). I wouldn’t suggest using it more than monthly due to the amount of citric acid. Plus, it should really keep your disposal smelling great for quite a while!

Did you make this garbage disposal cleaner? Tell us about your experience.

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A Natural Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer was written by Katie Vance.

* This article was originally published here